शास्त्रं वदति - 9

The third adhikaraNa of Kautilya's arthashAstra deals with law. The second chapter therein talks of laws concerning marriage and property of women. In this context Chanakya/Kautilya talks of widow remarriage.

मृते भर्तरि धर्मकामा तदानीमेव स्थाप्याभरणं शुल्कशेषं च लभेत॥१९॥
mṛte bhartari dharmakāmā tadānīmeva sthāpyābharaṇaṁ śulkaśeṣaṁ ca labheta19

'A woman who wishes to lead a pious life after her husband's death, immediately recieves all her money and jewellery that she may have kept in safe keeping with her in-laws, and another money that is remaining from parents' house too.'

कुटुम्बकामा तु श्वशुरपतिदत्तं निवेशकाले लभेत॥२१॥
kuṭumbakāmā tu śvaśurapatidattaṁ niveśakāle labheta21

'If she wishes to marry (kutumbakAmA), she shall be given on the occasion of her remarriage (niveshakAle) whatever either her father-in-law or her husband or both had given to her.'

श्वशुरप्रातिलोम्येन वा निविष्टा श्वशुरपतिदत्तं जीयेत॥२३॥
śvaśuraprātilomyena vā niviṣṭā śvaśurapatidattaṁ jīyeta23

'If a widow marries any man other than of her father-in-law's selection, she shall forfeit whatever had been given to her by her father-in-law and her husband.'


{Chanakya was a minister and political adviser to the emperor Chandragupta (340-293 BC). His arthashAstra is a very comprehensive text on economy, state laws and management principles.}

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